Australia takes 4 India wickets in last over to reach knockout stage at Women’s T20 World Cup

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten half-century went in vain as defending champion Australia took four wickets in the last over of the cricket match and won by nine runs at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday.

Australia advanced from Group A to the semifinals with the win. India's fate now depends on the outcome of the New Zealand versus Pakistan game on Monday.

In the early match, Maia Bouchier smashed 62 not out off 34 balls as England crushed Scotland by 10 wickets with 10 overs remaining in their Group B clash.

Kaur took her team close to a successful chase with 54 not out off 47 balls. India started the final over at 138-5, needing 14 runs to win. Two run-outs and two wickets for Australia bowler Annabel Sutherland saw India finish its innings at 142-9.

Australia rode on vital middle-order runs from skipper Tahlia McGrath (32 runs in 26 balls) and Ellyse Perry (32 in 23) after opener Grace Harris hit a 41-ball 40 in a total of 151-8.

Australia finished top of its group, winning all four games.

India is currently second after two wins and two losses. Both India and New Zealand have four points each, two more than Pakistan.

A win for the Kiwis on Monday will put them through, while Pakistan winning will see the remaining qualification spot in the group determined by net run-rate.

Australia won the toss against India and opted to bat first. Medium pacer Renuka Singh picked up 2-24 as India made it a tough start.

Singh accounted for Beth Mooney (2) and then trapped Georgia Wareham lbw for a golden duck.

Harris resisted and put on 62 off nine overs faced for the third wicket with McGrath. Their partnership turned the game around for Australia, despite left-arm spinner Radha Yadav (1-14) providing the breakthrough when McGrath was out stumped.

Off spinner Deepti Sharma, who finished with 2-28, had Harris out caught in the 14th over.

Australia lost wickets regularly in the second half of its innings, but Perry strung things together at the other end. She hit two fours and a six, helping her side to a commanding 150-plus total.

India’s chase faltered early on when left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux trapped Smriti Mandhana lbw for six.

Shafali Verma holed out for a brisk 20 off 13 balls, including two fours and a six. Megan Schutt then dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues for 16 and India was down to 47-3 in 6.5 overs.

Kaur and Sharma put on 63 off 54 balls for the fourth wicket – Sharma contributed 29 runs. But the run-rate was creeping up, and Sharma holed out in the 16th over.

England powered its way to 113-0 in only 10 overs as Bouchier put on an unbeaten opening stand with Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, who continued her splendid tournament form to score 51 not out off 26 balls.

This was after Scotland was restricted to 109-6 in its 20 overs. Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone picked up 2-13 in four overs.

With the win England moved to the top of Group B with three successive wins in as many games.

It is equal on six points with second-place South Africa, but ahead on a comfortable net run-rate of +1.716. England’s final game is against third-place West Indies (four points). All three teams could find themselves in a battle for the two knockout spots from the group.

Scotland has lost all four group games in its first Women’s T20 World Cup campaign, and along with hosts Bangladesh, is out of contention to advance from the group.

Scotland opted to bat and its openers made a decent start. Sarah Bryce scored 27 off 31 balls and put on 38 for the first wicket with Saskia Horley (13).

Nat Sciver-Brunt provided the breakthrough, and then Ecclestone had Sarah Bryce stumped with the score at 50-2 in 10.4 overs.

Skipper Kathryn Bryce top scored with 33 off 28 but the other batters were unable to kick on against disciplined English bowling led by Ecclestone.

In reply, England’s openers made light work of the chase. Wyatt-Hodge, who has previous scores of 41 and 43 in the tournament, smacked seven fours.

Bouchier hit 12 fours to reach 50 off 30 balls as the opening duo overhauled the target with half the innings to spare.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's players celebrates their win against India during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

India's Shafali Verma bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

India's Shafali Verma bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Australia's Grace Harris bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

India's Smriti Mandhana bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Australia's Annabel Sutherland celebrates after taking the catch to get the wicket of India's Shafali Verma during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Australia's Annabel Sutherland, left, celebrates with her teammates after taking the catch to get the wicket of India's Shafali Verma during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Australia's Grace Harris bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur walks off the field after losing to Australia during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Australia's Annabel Sutherland bowls a delivery during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Australia at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

England players celebrate the wicket of Scotland's Sarah Bryce during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Scotland at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

England's Maia Bouchier, left, and Danni Wyatt bumps their fists as they bat during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 matchbetween England and Scotland at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Scotland's Darcey Carter dives unsuccessfully to stop the ball during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Scotland at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Scotland's Abtaha Maqsood prepares to bowl during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Scotland at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

England's Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier celebrates their win against Scotland during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

The U.S. is sending a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery to Israel, along with US troops to operate it. The Pentagon made the announcement just hours after Iran warned the U.S. to keep its military forces out of Israel.

Israel is widely believed to be preparing a military response to Iran's Oct. 1 attack when it fired roughly 180 missiles into Israel.

Israel has been escalating its campaign against Hezbollah with waves of heavy airstrikes across Lebanon and a ground invasion at the border after a year of exchanges of fire. Israel is now at war with Hamas in Gaza and Hamas’ ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many were fighters but say women and children make up more than half of the fatalities. The war has destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its population of 2.3 million people.

It’s been a year since Hamas-led militants blew holes in Israel’s security fence and stormed into army bases and farming communities, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. They are still holding about 100 captives inside Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Here's the latest:

Israel’s military says four soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah drone attack on an army base next to Binyamina city.

A military statement says the strike Sunday evening also severely injured seven soldiers.

It’s the deadliest Hezbollah strike since Israel launched its ground invasion of Lebanon nearly two weeks ago.

The Lebanon-based Hezbollah earlier claimed responsibility and called the attack retaliation for Israeli strikes on Beirut on Thursday that killed 22 people.

Hezbollah and Israel have traded fired almost daily in the year since the war in Gaza began, and fighting has escalated.

United Hatzalah, an Israeli rescue service, says more than 60 people were injured in a drone strike in central Israel.

The Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack in the central city of Binyamina. Hezbollah said it targeted a military camp in retaliation for the two strikes in Beirut on Thursday, which killed 22 people.

It was not immediately clear whether military members were hurt or what was hit. There were no details from Israel’s military, which earlier reported at least 115 rockets were fired from Lebanon.

Israeli media said that two drones were launched from Lebanon, and the military said one drone was intercepted.

Israel’s advanced air defense systems mean such a high number of injuries from drones or missiles are exceptionally rare. The strike against Israel was one of the most serious since the start of the war.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel Rescue Services said that at least 20 people were injured in a drone strike in the central Israeli city of Binyamina, three of them critically.

Israeli media said that two drones were launched from Lebanon, and one was intercepted near the coast.

This is the second drone strike in two days in Israel. On Saturday, during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, a drone struck a retirement home in a suburb of Tel Aviv, causing damage but no injuries.

Israel’s defense minister says Israel is making sure that Hezbollah militants won’t return to communities in southern Lebanon.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made the comments Sunday during a visit to forces in northern Israel near the border.

Gallant described the “entire first line of villages” in southern Lebanon as having Hezbollah infrastructure and asserted that Israeli defense forces are currently destroying it above and below ground during their ground invasion.

“I have instructed the IDF at all levels to ensure the destruction of (attack infrastructure) and to ensure that terrorists may not return to these places. This is essential in order to ensure the safety of Israel’s northern communities,” Gallant said.

The United States will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery and troops to Israel. The Pentagon made the announcement Sunday, shortly after Iran warned Washington to keep American military forces out of Israel.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized the deployment of the THAAD battery at the direction of President Joe Biden.

Ryder said the air defense system will help bolster Israel’s air defenses following Iran’s missile attacks on Israel in April and October.

The THAAD is a defensive system that shoots down incoming ballistic missiles.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon says Israeli tanks forcibly entered the gates of one of its bases in southern Lebanon and destroyed the main gate early Sunday. A UNIFIL statement calls it a “further flagrant violation of international law.” The tanks later left.

Israel has warned the U.N. force to evacuate its positions during its offensive in southern Lebanon against the Hezbollah militant group. Five peacekeepers have been wounded in attacks that have struck peacekeeper’s positions in the past few days, most of them blamed by UNIFIL on Israeli forces.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday expressed regret for wounding peacekeepers but accused the U.N. mission of providing a “human shield” for Hezbollah.

Israel has long accused the U.N. of being biased against it, and relations have worsened during the yearlong war in Gaza.

UNIFIL was created in 1978 to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops after Israel invaded and occupied south Lebanon.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon of serving as “human shields” for Hezbollah after Israeli strikes wounded five of them in recent days.

The Israeli military has warned UNIFIL to evacuate southern Lebanon as it carries out air and ground operations against Hezbollah militants, but the peacekeepers have so far refused.

Netanyahu said Sunday that their refusal to clear out “has the effect of providing Hezbollah terrorists with human shields,” saying they had become “hostages of Hezbollah.”

“We regret the injury to the UNIFIL soldiers and we are doing everything in our power to prevent this injury. But the simple and obvious way to ensure this is simply to get them out of the danger zone,” he said in a video addressed to the U.N. secretary-general, who has been banned from entering Israel.

The military has ordered the peacekeepers to move five kilometers (three miles) north, which would effectively keep them from doing their mission. They have already halted patrols because of air and ground attacks.

Israel has long accused the U.N. of being biased against it and relations have plunged further since the start of the war in Gaza. It has accused the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees of having been infiltrated by Hamas, allegations the agency denies.

ROME — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the security of U.N. forces in southern Lebanon must be “guaranteed at all times.”

In a phone conversation Sunday with Netanyahu, Meloni also stressed that UNIFIL “acts under a mandate from the Security Council to contribute to regional stability.” She reiterated “the absolute necessity that the security of UNIFIL personnel be guaranteed at all times."

Netanyahu says Hezbollah uses U.N. peacekeepers as “human shields” after Israeli strikes wounded five of them in recent days.

The Italian premier also said she is convinced that, through the full implementation of U .N. Security Council Resolution 1701, “we can contribute to the stabilization of the Israeli-Lebanese border and ensure the return home of all displaced persons.”

Both Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers are deployed in southern Lebanon to enforce the resolution that ended a bloody monthlong 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

BAGHDAD — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the Middle East faces “dangerous challenges” as Tehran anticipates an Israeli strike.

“Iran does not seek war, but we are prepared for war,” Araghchi said at a news conference in Baghdad after meeting with his Iraqi counterpart.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein said Israel was forbidden from using Iraq’s airspace in any possible strike against Iran.

Baghdad’s top diplomat said an outbreak of regional war will create not only a global crisis but also fertile ground for the reemergence of extremist groups like the Islamic State.

“We are trying to keep the conflict away from the region and Iraq,” he said.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s foreign minister indirectly threatened U.S. forces potentially operating in Israel in an online post Sunday.

The comments came in a post on the social platform X long associated with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who helped reached Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

In the message, Araghchi referred to the United States potentially sending one of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems to Israel. Any move of one of the systems, known by the acronym THAAD, to Israel would involve the deployment of soldiers to operate the complex system.

“The US has been delivering record amount of arms to Israel,” the X message read. “It is now also putting lives of its troops at risk by deploying them to operate US missile systems in Israel.”

It added: “While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment over the remarks, which were carried by Iranian state media.

Israel is widely believed to be planning to attack Iran over its missile barrage on Israel earlier this month, its second direct attack on Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that’s widened to Lebanon and involved other Iranian-backed militant groups in the region.

The THAAD is a defensive system that shoots down incoming ballistic missiles, like those fired by Iran in its last attack.

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell contributed.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis reiterated his call on Sunday for an “immediate ceasefire" in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and asked for the U.N. peacekeepers to be “respected.”

“I continue to follow with concern what is happening in the Middle East,” the pontiff said during his Angelus prayer from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

“Let’s pursue the paths of diplomacy and dialogue to achieve peace,” he added, stressing he feels close to all the peoples involved: Palestine, Israel, Lebanon. He prayed for all the victims, the displaced, the hostages, saying he hoped they would be released “immediately.”

The pope wished “that this great and unnecessary suffering generated by hatred and revenge will soon come to an end.”

Israeli soldiers are seen during a ground operation in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil)

Israeli soldiers display what they say is an entrance to a Hezbollah tunnel found during their ground operation in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil)